Data, Knowledge, Information and Wisdom Continuum
The Data/Information/Knowledge/Wisdom Continuum
The Data/Information/Knowledge/Wisdom Continuum Data, information, and knowledge are words used to assign meaning to our complex nursing work. In the field of information technology, these words are used to give meaning and direct the flow of organizational knowledge (Thompson & Warren, 2009).
The concept of the data-information-knowledge-wisdom (DIKW) continuum is the transformation of data into wisdom through cognitive processes, which are supportive of the nursing practice. Schleyer and Beaudry (2009) discussed how nurses in this growing specialty are accountable to provide the best evidence-based care advice possible, transform the data collected to information, and apply that knowledge with wisdom to address the patient’s unique needs. The purpose of this paper is to display the progression through the four steps of the data, information, knowledge, wisdom continuum that occurs through research information to answer a clinical question pertinent to nursing in an acute care setting.
Electronic Medication Administration in Acute Care Setting Implementation of the electronic health record, computerized physicians order entry and decision support systems within the health care industry have attributed to a decrease in documentation and transcription errors, while making measurable improvements in our nation’s health care. The clinical research question for this paper is; has implementing the use of the electronic medication administration (eMAR) improved the safety of medication administration in the hospital setting? This technology at present has not been implemented in our hospital organization, but will be in the near future. Poon et al. (2010) explained that serious medication errors are common in hospitals and often occur during the transcription or administration of medication. In order to help prevent such errors, the development of technology has been instituted to verify medications by
The Data/Information/Knowledge/Wisdom Continuum Data, information, and knowledge are words used to assign meaning to our complex nursing work. In the field of information technology, these words are used to give meaning and direct the flow of organizational knowledge (Thompson & Warren, 2009).
The concept of the data-information-knowledge-wisdom (DIKW) continuum is the transformation of data into wisdom through cognitive processes, which are supportive of the nursing practice. Schleyer and Beaudry (2009) discussed how nurses in this growing specialty are accountable to provide the best evidence-based care advice possible, transform the data collected to information, and apply that knowledge with wisdom to address the patient’s unique needs. The purpose of this paper is to display the progression through the four steps of the data, information, knowledge, wisdom continuum that occurs through research information to answer a clinical question pertinent to nursing in an acute care setting.
Electronic Medication Administration in Acute Care Setting Implementation of the electronic health record, computerized physicians order entry and decision support systems within the health care industry have attributed to a decrease in documentation and transcription errors, while making measurable improvements in our nation’s health care. The clinical research question for this paper is; has implementing the use of the electronic medication administration (eMAR) improved the safety of medication administration in the hospital setting? This technology at present has not been implemented in our hospital organization, but will be in the near future. Poon et al. (2010) explained that serious medication errors are common in hospitals and often occur during the transcription or administration of medication. In order to help prevent such errors, the development of technology has been instituted to verify medications by
References: Healthcare Benchmarks & Quality Improvements (2010). Bar-code/eMAR combo reduces errors. Healthcare Benchmarks & Quality improvements, 17(9), 100-102. Matney, S., Brewster, P. J., Sward, K. A., Cloyes, K G., & Staggers, N. (2011). Philosophical approaches to the nursing informatics data-information-knowledge-wisdom framework. Advances in Nursing Science, 34(1), 6-18. DOI: 10.1097/ANS.0b013e3182071813 Paoletti, R. D., Suess, T. M., Lesko, M. G., Feroli, A. A., Kennel, J. A., Mahler, J. M. & Sauders, T. (2007). Using bar-code technology and medication observation methodology for safer medication administration. American Journal of Health System Pharmacy, 64,(5), 536-543. Poon, E. G., Keohane, C. A., Yoon, C. S., Ditmore, M., Bane, A., Levtzion-Korach, O., … Gahdhi, T. K. (2010). Effect of bar-code technology on the safety of medication administration. The New England Journal of Medicine, 362, 1698-1707. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMsa0907115 Rowley, J. (2007). The wisdom hierarchy: Representations of the DIKW hierarchy. Journal of Information Science, 33(2), 163-180. DOI: 10.1177/0165551506070706 Schleyer, R., & Beaudry, S. (2009). Data to wisdom: Informatics in telephone triage nursing practice. AAACN Viewpoint, 31(5), 1, 10-3. Thompson, T. L., & Warren, J. J. (2009). Are they all data? Understanding the work of organizational knowledge. Clinical Nurse Specialist, 23(4), 185-186. DOI: 10.1097/NUR.0b013e3181aae374